One way you can help pay for your education is through a work-study job. A work-study job allows for part-time student employment on-campus or off-campus with a pre-approved organization.
Work-study is more than an ordinary part-time job: it’s a form of financial aid, awarded either by the state or federal government, as a form of “self-help” so you don’t have to pay it back. Through work-study, you gain work experience and professional skills, network in your field of interest, and best of all earn a paycheck, ultimately helping you pay for your education!
To get a work-study job, you must have a completed FAFSA for the applicable aid year and meet the eligibility criteria.
As a reminder, work-study funds awarded to you will NOT pay toward your student balance.
Work- study is need-based financial aid program (Federal and State) that assists students seeking part- time student employment.
This “self-help” aid helps students develop professional skills and experience by working on-campus or off-campus with a pre-approved organization.
The Federal Work Study Program allows you to work on campus with a specific department or off campus with a community service partner. You must:
If you are a resident of Texas and meet the above requirements, you may be eligible for the Texas College Work Study Program.
It is important to remember that students must have all financial aid requirements met in order to receive work-study funds.
If you are eligible based off your FAFSA, you will be automatically awarded work-study. Students who were previously hired as work-study students will also be packaged with work-study on their account.
Any student that does not have work-study on their account can request work-study through Student Forms.
Like most financial aid, work-study awards are based on academic performance, fund availability, and financial need.
Since work-study is based on financial need, the award amount will be influenced by the student’s financial aid Cost of Attendance (COA). The work-study award must “fit” within the student’s financial aid COA, and not negatively affect other financial aid awards.
If you have doubts or concerns about your eligibility, please contact financialaid@lamar.edu or Deborah Guillory at (409) 880-7800 or deborah.guillory@lamar.edu.
Eligible students are offered a generic work-study award, which may vary per student. The generic award helps students market themselves for work-study positions.
Work-study does not pay for a student’s tuition and fees; nor does it get disbursed with other financial aid awards. Students earn their work-study award through part-time student employment on or off campus and receive a paycheck for their time.
Students are able to work during the semesters in which they are enrolled at least half-time status. If you withdraw from all your classes or stop attending classes, you will no longer be able to work as a work-study student, since enrollment is required throughout the duration of employment.
During the summer, students are eligible for work-study, if funds are available. Students must be enrolled at least half-time during the summer semesters they intend to work.
Employment dates generally extend through the regular academic semesters. Keep in mind that holidays, university closings, and graduating semesters may influence the employment periods.
Fall 2024-Spring 2024:
September 1, 2024 to May 9, 2025
Fall 2024 Semester Only:
September 1, 2024 to December 11, 2024
Spring 2025 Semester Only:
January 16, 2025 to May 9, 2025
Summer 2025 Semester:
May 29, 2025 to July 31, 2025
Work study positions are posted through the Human Resources office; you can browse available postings at https://jobs.lamar.edu.
Just like a real job, sometimes there are simply not many positions available. If you are not able to find a work-study position, the Human Resources office may have other student employment positions available.
Having a work-study award DOES NOT guarantee that you will find a job - it just means that you are eligible to receive the funding.
If you are unable to obtain employment, the work-study award will be canceled after 30 days of the first class day. However, you may always refer to the work study form online to request work-study funds again, if available, through Campus Logic.
Once you have been offered a work-study job, the hiring department will submit a request for hire, called a Personnel Action Form. This multistep process requires Student Employment, Financial Aid, and Human Resources to review student eligibility.
At this point, the department may begin to coordinate a work schedule and give you an expected date to begin working. New hires will be required to complete a Criminal Background Check and I-9 employment authorization from, as well as additional On-Boarding documents. Be sure to monitor your Lamar University email and have two valid forms of ID (Birth certificate, Passport, Social Security Card, State ID or Driver’s License) ready to turn in at Human Resources. Please keep in mind that Human Resources must give the final approval before you begin your first day of work.
All hourly employees can work no more than 20 hours per week. You and your supervisor will establish your schedule. The number of hours you can work during your employment depends on your work-study award and your pay rate.
For example:
If your work-study award is $4,000 for the Fall and Spring semesters combined and you are getting paid at $10.00 per hour, then you will have 400 hours to work between the Fall and Spring semesters. The $4,000 award is a projection of how much you could earn, and not an indication of how much you will earn: that depends on how many hours you are able to work.
$4,000 ÷ $10.00 𝑝𝑒𝑟 hour = 400 ℎ𝑟𝑠
It is important to know that you should not work more than your work-study award on a semester or annual basis. Doing so can negatively impact your other financial aid awards since your work-study earnings must fit within your financial aid COA.
Students are paid on a bi-weekly basis by submitting their timecard through Self Service Banner. To input your hours:
Time sheets must be submitted by the end of each pay period. For submission due dates, reference the payroll schedule under forms.
If you weren't paid on the due date, make sure your time sheet was submitted and approved by 5 p.m. of the due date. If your time sheet was not submitted and/or approved by the due date, Payroll will process it in the next pay period. If you have additional questions, contact the Payroll Office at (409) 880-8000 or https://www.lamar.edu/finance-and-operations/financial-services/payroll/index.html.
If you decide to quit or transfer your position, it is customary to provide a two weeks’ notice to your supervisor. This will help make sure that your resignation or transfer is processed within ample time.
Additionally, if you are transferring, the remaining award is what will be available to earn in the new department.
For example:
If you were awarded $ 4,000 in your work-study award and you have earned $2,436 in Department A, you will have $1,564 available to earn in Department B.
$4,000 − $2,436 = $1,564
If you earn more than you are awarded it could affect your other financial aid, it’s best to check with the Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid before proceeding! In some cases, earning more than the work-study award may cause a student to be over-awarded. An over-award means that the student has more financial aid than what their Cost of Attendance or Financial Need allows for. If there is an over-award, it is possible that other financial aid may be reduced to accommodate the work-study earnings.
Therefore, it is imperative that both student and supervisor monitor their status as diligently as possible.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Deborah Guillory at the following:
Deborah Guillory
Lamar University
Financial Aid Specialist Sr
Beaumont, TX
(409) 880-7800
Deborah.guillory@lamar.edu
If you received work-study in the Spring, you may apply for work-study in the Summer. Simply fill out Work-Study Request Form through Campus Logic.
We welcome and encourage every department to participate in the work study program. Work study is a need-based program that allows students to work while attending school to help pay for their educational expenses. Students must be at least half-time and complete a FAFSA for the applicable aid year to receive work study. This program is awarded to undergraduate and graduate students.
Half-Time enrollment is defined as 6 credit hours for an undergraduate and 4.5 credit hours for a graduate student.
Students can work up to 20 hours per week.
All work study students are paid $10.00 per hour.
Students are paid Bi-Weekly based on the payroll calendar.
Yes, students cannot exceed 20 hours per week. (Ex. Student works in Library 10 hours per week and Student Center 10 hours per week, at the end of each week student cannot exceed 20 hours. Supervisors must monitor students time).
Please have students to provide a copy of their work study award statement. This is helpful before completing a Personnel Action Form. If a Personnel Action Form is received and student(s) have not accepted their funds, the Personnel Action Form will be returned to the hiring department. At the beginning of each month a statement will be emailed to each department with an estimated balance for each student in your department.
***If a department would like to verify that a student qualifies for work study, please contact our office financialaid@lamar.edu or Deborah Guillory (409)880-7800 or deborah.guillory@lamar.edu.
Work study positions will go through Human Resources Office and be posted at https://jobs.lamar.edu.
Work Study Start and End Dates
Fall 2024-Spring 2025
9/1/24-5/9/25
Fall 2024 Semester:
9/1/24-12/11/24
Spring 2025 Semester:
1/16/25-5/9/25
Summer 2025 Semester:
5/29/25-7/31/25
NOTE: If a student is returning to work before the first day of Spring classes, they must be enrolled at least half-time resuming work.
***Students must be enrolled in six or more hours for Summer.***
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Deborah Guillory:
Deborah Guillory
Lamar University
Financial Aid Specialist Sr
Beaumont, TX
(409) 880-7800
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